Lessons We Can Learn From Former Child Stars
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One of the best things to do in life is learn from those who came before you. You can always learn from their successes as much as their mistakes, which can help guide you on your own path. It’s important to make sure your child model is following the right steps in order to achieve their dreams. Make sure to pick child stars that have been successful and staying in the limelight but not necessarily losing themselves. Usually we hear horror stories about child stars and their downfall, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of success stories. Those are the ones that need to be used as role models because not only did they succeed, they did so in an industry that can sometimes set you up for failure.
It is important to have guides along the way and ensure they are a positive influence on your child model's life. This will not only allow them to improve their status in the industry, it also gives them tangible goals along the way. So take a look at these important lessons we’ve learned from child models in the past.
Be Consistent
There are many types of child stars out there, but the ones that are the most successful are those who are consistently working. Whether it be print, commercial, movie, or whatever job it may be, the more you work, the more you get noticed. Think about the superstars like Leonardo DiCaprio or Ariana Grande. Both started at very young ages and never stopped being in the limelight. Even today you can find both doing commercials for huge brands, when they are already household names. This is because when a model consistently works they are always top of mind to producers and fans alike. Their fame is constantly doubling because they are always being seen by more and more audiences.
Beware the Money Trap
One of the main issues many child stars have is around their finances. Either they spend too much or invest without thinking and end up losing so much money they have to leave the industry. There are countless names from Gary Coleman to Nicholas Cage and even Johnny Depp who struggled with their finances due to spending problems. It is key to learn that even though you are young and may have more money than others, you need to use this to set up your future. If the money is spent now, it won’t be able to help when your child model isn’t getting jobs. The key is save, invest well, and set your child up for future success.
Embrace the One-Hit Wonder
Most child stars become famous for one single thing they did, whether it be Haley Joel Osment seeing dead people or Macaulay Culkin slapping on some aftershave. They could have shied away from it or used it to their advantage. As history shows, taking advantage of your one time fame has worked repeatedly. You will always get commercials, or print ads, or even modeling gigs simply because your child model may have a recognizable name and brand. What’s even better is leveraging it to get more jobs in the future. Some actors have a resurgence at an older age because of something they did when they were young. Look at the new series, Cobra Kai, it has created opportunities for former child stars to have a second chance at acting. It is important to use all the tools your child may have to continue reaching towards success.
At Bensimon Model & Talent we want every child to achieve their most magical dreams. We feel that by doing it the right way, we can navigate the modeling industry together and take it by storm. Read more of our blogs to learn as much as you can about the industry and what it’s like being a child model.